Landa wins Vuelta stage 20 as Mas closes on overall title
Mikel Landa won stage 20 of the Vuelta a España and Enric Mas moved to within one stage of winning the race overall.
Landa, riding for Soudal Quick-Step, took the 186.8km mountainous stage from La Calahorra to Collado del Alguacil in 4h 58' 01''. Mas, the Movistar leader, stretched his advantage over Primoz Roglic to 2 minutes 15 seconds with only the final stage left, organisers confirmed. BBC Sport
The 36-year-old Spaniard was part of a three-man breakaway — a small group that escapes ahead of the peloton, the main pack of riders. He attacked clear on the final climb and held on through the thin mountain air. Norway's Tobias Johannessen finished second, 47 seconds behind, with Ramses Debruyne third.
It was Landa's second La Vuelta stage win and his first since 2015. Eleven years separated the two victories. La Vuelta
Behind him, the fight for GC — the overall standings, decided on total time — tilted decisively toward Mas. He started the day in the red leader's jersey and finished with a total time of 70h 56' 58''. Roglic, of Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, stayed second. Felix Gall, of Decathlon CMA CGM Team, held third, 2 minutes 44 seconds back.
The biggest mover was Sepp Kuss. The American, who won the Vuelta in 2023, jumped from 11th to fifth overall, 8 minutes 45 seconds down. Richard Carapaz sat fourth, 6 minutes 54 seconds behind Mas. Britain's Oscar Onley was sixth, 9 minutes 28 seconds back, and was set to win the white jersey for best young rider.
Mas took the lead after Tadej Pogacar crashed out on stage eight. It has been a long wait for the Spaniard. He finished runner-up in 2018, 2021 and 2022. Now he has a cushion of more than two minutes.
What makes this stand out is the Spanish double. Landa ended more than a decade without a home-tour win. Mas rode like a man determined not to let second place happen again.
One stage remains. It is a 112km route around Granada ending in the Paseo del Salon, listed for 13 September. On paper, it should not change the top of the standings. Mas only needs to reach the finish safely to seal it.
